Relegation-threatened Leeds United face a tough test vs Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton & Hove Albion, who are vying for a top-six finish.
Leeds United, who will have a game vs Brighton & Hove Albion next, seemed like one of the smart spenders in the last two transfer windows. Yet they find themselves in an unprecedented position on the table. Javi Gracia hopes to retain the club’s status as a Premier League side, but there’s much work to do here.
Leeds have picked only 22 points all season, with 16 of those coming at Elland Road. Gracia will hope the home crowd spurs them into getting positive results in the run-in. The team needs to pick up wins to get out of the danger zone once and for all. They currently sit in the 17th spot, level on points with Everton, but only ahead on goal difference and a game in hand.
๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ป๐: pic.twitter.com/GuYc8bwjlA
— Leeds United (@LUFC) March 9, 2023
Grachi made a good start to life as Leeds’s manager with a win over fellow strugglers Southampton. However, Leeds fell to defeats against west London sides Fulham and Chelsea in recent weeks. The latter was in the league, with Wesley Fofana’s solitary second-half goal proving the difference.
Roberto De Zerbi has brought in plenty of optimism at Brighton ahead of what may seem like a top-six chase. The Seagulls are well-placed for a European finish, as they sit in the eighth spot with three games in hand over seventh-placed Fulham.
By thinking Brighton would win each of their three games in hand, they would be fourth on the current standings. However, they must collect maximum points in those pending clashes, which would be challenging for De Zerbi’s men.
The Seagulls dropped five points against Crystal Palace and Fulham. Brighton got back on track with a smashing victory over West Ham United. Goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Joel Veltman, Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck put them in a commanding position.
Team News & Tactics
Leeds United
Javi Gracia has plenty of injury issues with his squad as he looks to pick the strongest possible lineup to face Brighton. Luis Sinisterra, Patrick Bamford and Liam Cooper remain doubtful, although the trio will go through an assessment.
๐ Javi Gracia chats to the press ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Brighton https://t.co/wK241qlgf6
— Leeds United (@LUFC) March 9, 2023
The potential return for Sinisterra will boost Gracia’s side, as they have missed his direct approach. Meanwhile, if Bamford does not make it to the starting eleven, Georginio Rutter will again lead the line for Leeds United.
Gracia will likely keep most of his team intact from the defeat to Chelsea but could bring Wilfried Gnonto in the attacking third. The Italian could replace Jack Harrison on the left-hand side.
Crysencio Summerville and Brenden Aaronson will complete the attacking setup behind Rutter. In central midfield, Leeds seems settled with the partnership between Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie. Meanwhile, the backline will remain intact, with Cooper still a major doubt.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1):ย Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Wober, Firpo; Adams, McKennie; Summerville, Aaronson, Gnonto; Rutter
Brighton
Roberto De Zerbi had a few fitness updates regarding his first team members. Adam Lallana and Jakub Moder are out of action with injuries, as has been the case for some time. Levi Colwill’s inclusion in the squad will depend on a late assessment.
Hard at work before the weekend. ๐ช pic.twitter.com/qDvg0btco1
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) March 9, 2023
Meanwhile, Tariq Lamptey also remains doubtful, with the club likely making a late assessment call on the full-back. De Zerbi also confirmed Solly March was fit to play. He also confirmed Jason Steele would continue between the posts ahead of Robert Sanchez.
De Zerbi will continue deploying a back four with Joel Veltman, Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk and Pervis Estupinan. This could be the backline, irrespective of Lamptey’s fitness for the game. The manager might prefer to start Moises Caicedo and Pascal Gross in midfield in a double pivot.
Mac Allister will play the advanced No.10 role for the Seagulls. Mitoma and March will complete the front three for Brighton, with Evan Ferguson again leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1):ย Steele; Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan; Gross, Caicedo; March, Mac Allister, Mitoma; Ferguson
Key Stats
- Leeds United have collected 16 of their 22 points at Elland Road.
- Leeds United have failed to score in five of their last seven games in the Premier League.
- Leeds United have suffered 13 losses this season in the Premier League.
- Brighton are the third-best scoring team away from home in the premier league.
- Brighton have scored 15 goals from their last seven games in the Premier League.
Player to Watch
Alexis Mac Allister
The Argentine international has been incredible for Brighton in the last two seasons. He continued his impressive form at the World Cup and has proven to be a key member of Roberto De Zerbi’s team. There is a reason why the Seagulls did not accept or even entertain any bids for the Argentine star in January, and they will reap the rewards.
During his pre-match press conference, De Zerbi suggested his players are reaching a new level with their game, and one of them certainly is Mac Allister. Among a host of other rising stars, Mac Allister is by far Brighton’s most important and valuable player. And it is hardly surprising he is coveted by several top clubs.
Prediction
Leeds United 0-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton’s form this season has seen them trump many top teams. There have been concerns with results against teams lower down the table. Their recent results against West Ham United suggest Roberto De Zerbi may have found a solution to the problem.
Conversely, Javi Gracia will continue to find ways to improve Leeds United and their results. So far, their luck seems to be against them, something the manager hopes will change. They may have to wait to start churning our results. But Leeds may not get anything vs Brighton.
